Calculating machine



Sept 26, 1933. J. A. v. TURCK ET AL 1,927,855

CALCULATING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 29, 1927 4 She ets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1933.

J. A. V. TURCK El AL CALCULATING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 29, 1927 4 SheetsrSheet 2 I ll mm m 4% qding 2.11 1% dzgw Sept. 26, 1933- J. A. v. TURCK ET AL CALCULATING momma Original Filed Sept. 29, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 26,1933- J. A. v. TURCK El AL CALCULATING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 29, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 26, 1933 -UNITED STATES CALCULATING MACHINE Joseph A. V. Turck, Wilmette, Ill., and Roy A. Ferris, Water-ville, Conn, assignors to Felt &

Tarrant Manufacturing Company,

@hicago,

111., a corporation oi. Illinois Application September 29, 1921?, Serial Noo 7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in calculating machines and more particularly to calculating machines of the multipleorder key-driven type, such as those exemplified by the well known Comptometer machines.

Objects of the invention are to provide means for locking the keys and the cancelling mechanism so as to prevent operation of the machine by either adding in amounts to the total by depression of the keys or by clearing the total that may appear on the register wheels by operation of the cancelling mechanism, in order that the total may not be interfered with when such locking means are set. Thus an operator who wishes to retain a total that has been acquired from adding, multiplying, subtracting or dividing on a key-driven calculating machine may leave the accumulated amount appearing on the register in the machine without danger of someone accidentally pressing the keys or pulling the cancelling handle and thereby disturbing the previously acquired total. Another object of the invention is the provision of such locking mechanism that may be conveniently set by the operation of a thumb-knob or other type of device through a simple one-motion action to lock the machine as above set forth. A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a locking arrangement in calculating machines without materially disturbing their construction and arrangement and without affecting the resistances and lightness of action of the various parts of the machine.

The invention has for further objects such other improvements in construction and advantages in operation as may be found to obtain in the mechanism hereinafter described or claimed. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and showing for purposes of exemplification, a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrative instance or instances:-

Figure l is a plan view of a calculating machine of the multiple-order key-driven type in which the present improvements are embodied;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken at the right ,hand side of the calculating machine illustrated in Fig. l, as indicated by lines 2-2 thereon;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevational view taken at the left hand side of the calculating Renewed July 8, 1932 machine illustrated in Fig. l, as indicated by lines 3-3 thereon;

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective elevational view of the operative parts of the present invention showing the connections leading to the key and other patents to said Dorr E. Felt, and also in US. Letters Patent No. 1,110,734 to Kurt F. Ziehm and U. S. Patent No. 1,357,748 and others to the present inventor, Joseph A. V. Turck. Features of the invention are, however, readily sus= ceptible of other valuable application, consequently, the scope of the invention is not confined to the specific use and specific embodiment herein described as an illustrative example. As the details of construction of this type of machine may be readily understood from these United States patents, a brief description of the general features of this type of machine, and such parts as are directly concerned with the operation of the present improvements, will be sufflcient for an understanding of the present invention.

The various instrumentalities of the calculating machine are supported by a frame mounted on the base 21 of a casing, said frame being constituted of side skeleton plates 22 and intermediate skeleton plates 23 disposed between the various actuating mechanisms of the several orders of the machine, and all tied together at suitable points by tie rods 24. A number of columns of nine keys are provided, each key being indicated by the reference character 25, and there being a column of nine keys for each numeral wheel (except, of course, the overflow wheel 20 at the left hand side of the machine) that is a duplicate of the other columns, together with the actuating mechanisms and attendant parts interposed between a column of keys and its corresponding numeral wheel. Each column of keys 25 forms a part of an accumulator mechanism for transmitting to its numeral wheel an amount of travel proportioned to the particular key operated, and the accumulator mechanism for each column of keys and the corresponding numeral wheel includes a column actuator inthe form of a segment lever 26 pivoted at the rear end of the machine and adapted to be depressed in different amounts, as determined by the particular keys actuated by the operator. Each key is provided with a stem 27 extending down and bearing on the corresponding column actuator 26:,

The column actuator 26 of each order or column of nine keys is adapted to impart calculating movement to an accumulator, and, for such purpose, is provided at its forward end with a rack which meshes with a ratchet pinion 31 journaled on a transverse shaft 30 that extends across the machine and is supported in suitable bearings in the skeleton frame. The pinion of each order forms a part of an internal ratchet mechanism, not herein described but fully set forth in the prior patents hereinabove mentioned. Such ratchet mechanism becomes effective on the upward stroke of the column actuator 26 to clutch the column actuator 26 to the transmitting pinion 31, which is normally operatively connected by atrain of gearing comprising carrying spring winding gears 32, and gears 34, with the numeral wheel pinion 36. Whenever the column actuator is depressed the ratchet mechanism moves idly 25 and hence no motion is transmitted .to the gear train interposed between it and the numeral wheel pinion 36. However, upon the return or upward movement of the column actuator, the column actuator is clutched to the gear 31 and the said interposed-gear train rotates the numeral wheel 38 through an are determined by the particular key of its corresponding order that is actuated. The column actuator is moved upwardly on release of the actuated key, by column actuator springs 39.

Zeroizing is effected by detraining or'disengaging the transmitting pinions 31 from the carrying spring winding gears 32. Such detrainment or disengagement is effected through a short rocking movement, towards the left in Fig. 2, of a transverse shaft 45. To impart such rocking movement of shaft 45 there is provided a short transverse shaft that extends through the outer casing of the machine and that carries an operating handle or zeroizing lever'll. A segment 72 is fixed upon the inner end of shaft '70 and is provided with a series of ratchetteeth 72'. Pivoted to segment 72 is a link 73' which is in turn pivoted to a depending lever 44 that is pivoted at 75 on the fixed frame of the machine. The lower end of lever arm 44 is pivotally connected by a short link '16 with an are '17 rotatably mounted with respect to the transmission shaft 45 journaled in the fixed frame. The arm 7'! is provided with an engaging face 47 adapted to make contact with a second arm 46 fast on shaft 45. A short swinging movement of crank 71 to the left (Fig. 2) will through segment '72,

link 73, lever arm 44, short link 76, arm '77 and rocker arm 46 impart a short rocking movement to shaft 45 in a counter clockwise direction (Fig. 2), and such rocking movement will effect the rocking movement necessary to effect the detrainment or disengagement of gear 32 from pinion 31.

The machine is provided with key-board locks,

preferably of the type operable on partial depression and release of one or more keys to lock the entire key-board until the misstruck key has been will be sufficient for an understanding of this invention.

As shown on the drawings, each column actuator 26 in the machine is provided with a latch 79 for engagement with one of a plurality of locks 78, respectively individual to one of said column actuators 26, andwhen a partial key-stroke occursthe key-board locks l8 are set through the rearward swing of the reciprocating bar 63 extending across all column actuators 26 of the machine, which forms a part of a rocking device consisting of an arm 64 fastened to a pivoted rock bar 65. The rearward swing of the reciprocating bar 63 releases an arm 62 forming a part of a rock frame carrying the rod 74, which coacts with the locks 78 to normally hold them out of engagement against their spring action which would cause them to engage their respective latches 79 on the column actuators or segment levers 26, such release allowing the arms 62 and locks '78 to drop do'wnunder the spring action of the locks 78. Thus the locks 78 are allowed to engage the latches 79 on the column actuators and hold the column actuators to lock the:

key-board of the machine against the action of any of the keys 25, since such action depends upon the possibility of depressing the said column actuators or segment levers. Release of the column actuator latches 79 from the locks 78 is effected by downward depression of key-lock release key 81. This key 81 bears upon a crossbar 82 connecting arms 62 on opposite sides of the machine. When key 81 bears on bar 82, the

bar 82 depresses the rear ends of arms 62 and.

elevates their forward ends for seating on bar 63 and for elevating the bar 74 into engagement with locks 78 so that bar '14 lifts the upper ends of locks 78 thus freeing their lower ends from danger of someone accidentally pressing the keys 25 or pulling the zeroizlng handle 71 and thereby disturbing the previously acquired total, without altering the accumulated total and without requiring the making of a partial key-stroke, by manipulating a device which consists of a thumbknob that may be turned a half-revolution to cause the rearward reciprocation of the rod 63 and thereby actuate the partial keystroke locks to locking position when all of the ordinal column actuating mechanisms are in normal or home position whereby all ordinal actuating mechanisms may be simultaneously locked against actuation by the keyboard by the use of the partial keystroke locking mechanism of the prior Comptometer patents independently of an incomplete keystroke at the will of the operator. produce this rearward reciprocating action of the shaft 63, and thus lock the key-board, a vertical shaft.A, having a thumb-knob A, Figs. 1-

and 4, is provided as a manipulative device to give power for such action. Said device is housed in a vertical bearing B, which protrudes through the key-board casing and is fastened therein. A stop pin A is arranged to act in a cut-away portion of the housing B to allow but a half rotation of the thumb-knob A. On the lower end of the shaft A and inside the casing is fastened a cam sector C, Figs. 3 and 4. Pivoted in two side frames or supports 22 respectively on. opposite sides of the machine and just under the keymenses plate and adjacent sector cam C is arranged a rock-bar D having lever arms D and D. Pivotally connected to the arm D is arranged a slotted link E, the slot E of which is arranged to allow the link E to reciprocate backward and forward on the shaft 63. Attached to the pivoted end of the link E at E is a spring E which has its other end attached to a shaft 122. It will be apparent that in this combination of the rock shaft D, lever arm D, link E, and spring E the spring E will normally tend to rock the lever arm D and pull the link E rearwardly, causing the link E to pull the shaft 63 rearwardly in the event that the shaft 63 is in its forward or normal position.

To control such action an arm D connected with and forming a part of the lever arm D, is arranged to co-act with the cam-sector C, which, when in normal position C", as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, restrains the movement of the lever 1D arid arms D and D under the action of the spring E and prevents the link E from pulling the shaft 63 rearwardly to set the key-hoard locks.

An arrow or pointer A on the head or top of the thumb-knob A serves as a means of indicating whether the manipulative device is set in locked position or not. When ocked the arrow points away from the word Locked that is stamped in the top of the casing. But when the thumb-knob is turned so that the arrow is pointing toward the word Locked the sectorcam C is rotated relieving the arm D of the pressure the cam exerts against the action of the spring E and allowing the bar D, arm D, and link E to swing rearwardly, pulling the shaft 63 rearwardly with it thus setting the key-hoard locks 78 as herelnbefore described.

Pivoted to the lever arm D of the rock loar D is a link F, the forward end of which is provided with a slot F, through which extends a pivot shaft and which forms a support on which the front end of the link F may reciprocate, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

A dog G is pivotallymountedon the shaft lull, adjacent to and. on the right-hand side of the front end of the lever F to engage and lock the ratchet 72' of the arm 72 of the zeroizing lever 71, Fig. 1. The normal position of the dog G is shown in Fig. 2, while its locked position when in looking engagement with the ratchet arm i2 is disclosed in Fig. 5. A perpendicular arm G of the dog G (see Fig. 5) is provided with a pin G which extends to the left and through the jaw F in the upper end of the link F.

When the arrow A of the manipulative "mole or device is turned toward the word Locked, the lever arm I) will rock rearwardly at the same time that the arm D is similarly rocked, under the pull of the spring E on the loar D, thus causing the link F that is pivoted to the arm D to be pulled rearwardly and cause the jaw F in the upper end of the link to swing the pin (3 of the dog G rearwardly, causing the dog to engage the teeth of the ratchet 72', as shown in Fig. 5, and thereby lock the ratchet arm 72 against any forward movement and locking the zeroizing lever 71 to prevent its being pulled to the left in Fig. 2 and effecting a rocking of shaft 45 to clar the accumulator register.

When the arrow A is pointed toward the word Locked, the whole machine is effectively locked against any clearance action of the cancelling crank or zeroizing lever 71 and against any depression of the individual numeral keys, and, after being so locked, it the knob A is turned so that the arrow A points away from the word Locked, the cam-sector will have been turned over the arm D to depress it and elevate the bar D against the action of the spring'E such elevation causing a forward movement of both links E and F, the forward movement of the link i causing the jaw F to lift the dog G out of the ratchet teeth to effect the disengagement of the dog G from the ratchet arm 72, and the forward movement of the link E releases its holding engagement of the shaft 63 so that said shaft 63 may be reset by the key-lock release-key 8i and itsassociated mechanism hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the present drawmgs.

. To prevent the manipulating knob A from turning backward, as might result from the action of the cam 0 on the arm D a depression or shoulder C is made by an offset in the end of the sector-cam C to prevent the cam C from hacking up; and, to allow action of the bar 63,, independently of said knob A, from key action in case of a partial key-stroke, the slot E is provided so that bar 63 may move independently of the link E.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is em= bodied in particular form but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

We claim:

1. In a multiple-order key-driven calculat machine comprising: accumulator mechanism including neral wheels; column actuators Toy means of which the motion of a key is communicated to the accumulator mechanism; driving keys therefor; and partial key-stroke loc mechanism for locking the col actuators; the combination of a pivotally mounted link operatively connected said partial key-=stroke loc mech to sheet locking thereof separately fro such partial hey-strokes; spring means for operating said 1: a cam operatively connected with said link and movable to one position to hold said link against its spring and movable to another position to release said link to permit it to move under the action of its spring to operate the partial hey-stroke loc mech for said col actuators, said cam heing operable to locking and unlocked position separately from said drl keys and at will by an operator wherehy to prevent operation of the chine icy key-driven adding in of amounts to a total that may appear on the numeral wheels.

2. in a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine comprising: accumulator mechanism including neral wheels; Hill 11* actuators loy means of which the motion of a key is communicated to the accumulator mechanism; driving lreys therefor; and partial key-stroke locking mechanism for locking orders of the key-board; the combination of a link operatively connected with said partial key-stroke locking mechanism to effect locking thereof separately from such partial key-stroke; and means operable by yieldable lid Fri

means to locking position to move said link to one position to actuate said partial key-stroke locking mechanism, and being operable to unlocking position to move said link to release said partial key-stroke locking mechanism from said link, said means being operable to locking and 3. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine comprising: accumulator mechanism including numeral wheels; column actuators by means of which the motion of a key is communicated to the accumulator mechanism; driving keys therefor; and partial key-stroke locking mechanism for locking orders of the key-board; the combination of a link operatively connected with said partial key-stroke locking mechanism to eflect locking'thereof separately from such partial key-stroke; means operable by yieldable means to locking position to move said link to one position to actuate said partial key-stroke looking mechanism, and being operable to unlocking position to move said link to release said partial key-stroke locking mechanism from said link; said means being operable to locking and unlocked position separately from said driving keys and at will by an operator whereby to prevent operation of the machine by key-driven adding in of amounts to a total that may appear on the numeral wheels; and means operable at will and adapted for resetting the partial key-stroke locking mechanism for the key-board after such mechanism for locking orders of the key-board;

the combination with said elements of auxiliary means operatively connected with said partial key-stroke locking mechanism to effect actuation of said partial key-stroke locking mechanism separately from a partial key stroke; and means for controlling the movement of said auxiliary means to locking and unlocking position, said means being operable separately from the driving keys at will by an operator, whereby to prevent operation of the machine by key-driven adding in of amounts to the total that may appear on the numeral wheels of the accumulator mechanism.

5. In a calculating machine having registering wheels and key-driven devices for actuating said registering wheels, and including devices eifecting the locking of the whole key-board in event of a partial key-stroke, in combination: a manipulative device coacting with said key-board locking devices as an auxiliary means for throwing them into action, which device may be thrown into action separately from said key-driven devices at the will of an operator to co-act with said key-board locking devices to lock the keys against manipulation, and yieldable means for effecting co-action of the manipulative device with the key-board locking devices when the manipulative device is thrown into action by an operator.

6. In a calculating machine having a keyboard for effecting registration in several orders, ordinal actuating mechanism actuated by the keys for effecting the calculating actuation, and error control devices for locking the keyboard and ordinal actuating mechanism in home position 0! the latter, in event of a partial key-stroke and under the control of the ordinal actuating mechanism movement, the combination with said elements of means whereby all ordinal actuating mechanisms may be simultaneously locked by said error control devices when all of the ordinal actuating mechanisms are in normal or home position.

7. In a calculating machine having a keyboard for effecting registration in several orders, ord1 nal actuating mechanism actuated by the keys for efiecting the calculating'actuation,.error control mechanism for locking the ordinal actuating mechanism in home position of the latter, in event of an incomplete key-stroke and under the control of the ordinal actuating mechanism movement, and devices for clearing a locked condition set up by said error control mechanism, the combination with said elements of means for setting said error control locks when all or the ordinal actuating mechanisms are in normal or home position whereby all of the ordinal actuating mechanisms may be locked against actuation independently of an incomplete key-stroke at the will of an operator, said means rendering the devices for clearing the error control locks inoperative while said means is so set.

JOSEPH a. v. TURCK. Roy A. FERRIS. 

